SYLVANIA, Ohio — The Bethel Pilots (7-5, 4-2)Â fell to the Lourdes University Gray Wolves (5-5, 3-2) on Saturday night in the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center. The Pilots took the match to five sets after dropping the first.
The Pilots’ stats were nearly identical in every statistical category, excluding serving. The Gray Wolves accumulated nine service areas in comparison to Bethel’s two.
Bethel totaled 20 hitting errors, while Lourdes recorded 22. The Pilots posted a 0.254 hitting percentage with 56 kills, and the Gray Wolves posted a 0.255 hitting percentage with 58 kills.
Pablo Tello showcased five season highs: kills in a single game (18), points scored (21.5), aces (two), digs (seven), and total blocks (three).
Christian Woumnga hit three season highs: kills (14), assists (two), and digs (11).
Maik Herbst recorded a new season high for digs in a single game (eight), and he totaled 22 assists. Sebastian Rodriguez hit four assists, his highest this season.
In the first set, Christian Woumnga scored the first kill for Bethel, as the Pilots trailed by three (2-5). Bethel pressed on with an aggressive three-point run early on in the set.
Thomas Dunkley and Christian Woumnga posted back-to-back kills, and McGwire Eigenrauch ended the run with an ace.
The Pilots took the lead for the first time in the set at 16-15 with a kill by Pablo Tello that ended a successful five-point run.
The Gray Wolves retaliated with their five-point run as the set neared its conclusion. Lourdes took the first set 25-20.
In the second set, Santana Roybal-Benson scored the first kill for the Pilots to bring Bethel up 4-3.
Bethel went on a four-point run mid-set to bring their score to 13-8. Pablo Tello posted the last earned kill of the match at 24-17. Tello and teammate Jibbe Boeren stuff-blocked a Lourdes attack to win the second set 25-18.
In the third set, Christian Woumnga scored a kill to put the Pilots up 6-5. The Gray Wolves charged back with a six-point run, leading 11-6. Ling Pak Him broke Lourdes’ run with a kill.
Christian Woumnga scored the last earned kill of the set as Bethel trailed 23-21. Lourdes claimed the third set following an attack error by Woumnga, 25-21.
In the fourth set, an attacking error by Lourdes granted the Pilots their first point. Lourdes led the scoreboard, but Thomas Dunkley scored the first kill for Bethel 4-2.
Each team went point-for-point until the score was tied at 21-21 after a Gray Wolf attacking error. Thomas Dunkley secured the fourth set for the Pilots 25-23 with a kill.
As each team entered into the final set, Pablo Tello scored the first kill as Bethel trailed by two (4-2). Lourdes’ serving proved to be a formidable opponent, as the Gray Wolves totaled three aces in the fifth set.
Jibbe Boeren and Thomas Dunkley scored on two consecutive double blocks as Bethel trailed by four (10-6).
Bethel lost the fifth set 15-8 despite achieving multiple season highs and nearly identical stats with their opponent.
The Pilots will next compete against No. 6 Cornerstone University in the Goodman Gymnasium on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 5:00 p.m.